Dartford

Dartford's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, ethnicity and work life.

The population passed 97,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Dartford increased by 13%, from just over 85,900 to 97,400.

The addition of about 11,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Dartford was home to, on average, 9.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Change in Dartford housing

This area saw the South East's joint third-largest fall in the proportion of socially rented homes, alongside Gravesham. The largest fall was seen in Eastbourne

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households in Dartford lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of privately rented homes increased from 8.0% to 16%.

The rate of social housing was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that that rented socially across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Dartford

The number of people in Dartford that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 13,000 in 2001 to just over 26,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Dartford that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 63,000 in 2001 to about 59,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 7,400 to about 6,400 (from 8.6% to 6.6%).

Just under 1,600 people (0.7%) said they were Muslim, up from about 600 in 2001 (1.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Dartford increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Dartford

The number of people in Dartford from the White ethnic groups increased from about 81,000 in 2001 to just over 85,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 95% to 87%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Dartford from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,700 in 2001 to just under 5,800 in 2011 (from 3.2% to 6.0%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 760 to just under 3,600 (from 0.9% to 3.7%).

About 2,200 people (1.2%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 1,000 in 2001 (2.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Dartford decreased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Dartford working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 40 (2.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Dartford decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Dartford, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Dartford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.4% to 4.4% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Dartford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Dartford decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Dartford, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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